Truth is the beginning of wisdom…

Quotes To Ponder

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse [money, bounty, assistance, gifts] from the public treasury.
- Alexis de Tocqueville

From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.
- Alexander Frazer Tytler

Archive for April 15th, 2009

Our government views all opponents of abortion, illegal immigration, and policy disagreement as terrorist threats. This DHS report was sent to our law enforcement to “watch us!”

The Department of Homeland Security officials have issued a report which links people with pro-life, anti-illegal immigration views, teachers of end-time prophecies, and veterans of war with “right-wing extremist” groups.

In an intelligence assessment issued to law enforcement last week, Homeland Security officials said there was no specific information about an attack in the works by right-wing extremists. But, watch how anyone who agrees with biblical teaching will be included! DHS warns that an extended economic downturn with real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability to obtain credit could foster an environment for extremists to recruit members who may not have been supportive of these causes in the past. In other words, anyone who disagrees with the new government policies have to be watched.

The latest assessment started making its way into the mainstream press after conservative blogs got wind of the analysis. In the unclassified report – “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” – the agency warns that by not imposing new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans who have difficulties assimilating back into their communities could lead to terror groups or individuals attempting to carry out attacks. The returning war veterans have skills and experience that are appealing to right-wing groups looking to carry out an attack, according to the report. Well, that’s a slap in the face to our military heroes … and those who have died for this county!

The report says right-wing extremism in the United states can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily “hate-oriented” and those that are mainly anti-government, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority or rejecting government authority entirely. Again, anti-government being anyone who is not in agreement with the present leadership and policies.

According to the Homeland Security document, right-wing extremism “may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as abortion or immigration.” So Christians and churches are once again in the crosshairs due to a stand on the sanctity of life – now anyone against abortion is a potential threat … terrorist.

The report goes on to say that “many right-wing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use.”

The Homeland Security report also makes reference to the rise of right-wing extremism in the 1990s and says factors which enhanced the movement were opposition to things such as abortion and same-sex “marriage.” Anyone on the right by the DHS description is beginning to look like an extremist. I am thinking that if you utilize your freedom of speech and it does not fit the government criteria the you become an extremist … soon to be terrorist. What baloney!

It also says “antigovernment conspiracy theories and ‘end times’ prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.”

The message I seem to be getting here is … forget the real terrorists … watch law abiding Americans who just disagree. Sounds like the denied socialistic tendencies are being ratcheted up to communistic ones! These are Marxist thoughts.

Does the release of this report cause the image of the DHS to begin to look a bit Gestapo-like … or is it just the imagination of a Christian seeing potential persecution … from history?

The good news came on Easter Sunday. Americans said a prayer of thanks when three Navy Seals freed American Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. By simply doing their job, honorably and effectively, these remarkable men set the right standard for a civilized world.

The bad news is the Seals’ show of strength and leadership has been a singular event in a dangerous world.

In New York In the 1970s, civilization was giving way to predators. Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Chief William Bratton’s succeeded in lowering crime in New York City much in the way the piracy issue needs to be handled today.

New York City in the 1970s

It seemed like every other car parked on the street had a sign posted in its window that said: “No Radio.” These “No Radio” signs were a white flag of surrender to the rampant crime that terrorized New York during this time. They were a signal that the criminals were winning; the ultimate sign of the weakness of civilization in the face of the uncivilized predators, aggressors and thieves.

Much like New York 30 years ago, the world today is full of predators and aggressors constantly testing the limits of what they can get away with. They prey on the weak and the innocent. And the signal they are receiving from America and the civilized world is that there are no consequences for their bad behavior.

Hanging Up a “No Radio” Sign in the International Arena

What essentially is happening is the world is hanging up “No Radio” signs … and the Somali pirates are just the latest example. Signs mean nothing to …

… a North Korea firing a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon deliberately on the day the President is giving a big speech on nuclear disarmament, and the civilized world wrings it hands and talks about legal conventions.

… the Iranian dictatorship cheerfully announces that is has 7,300 centrifuges to make nuclear bombs and nothing happens.

… Hamas firing a few more missiles into Israel and everyone turns a blind eye ignoring it.

… a Pakistan that transfers power to the Taliban in its North West Frontier and the world stands idly by.

Strength Works Against Predators … Weakness Only Invites More Predation

As mayor, Rudy Giuliani, along with his police commissioner, William Bratton, transformed New York by doing something very simple in conception but very difficult in execution. They cleaned up crime in New York by showing that strength works against predatory aggressors.

Weakness only invites more predatory aggression.

Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Bratton were inspired by a theory developed by social scientist James Q. Wilson and criminologist George Kelling called the “broken windows” theory.

If criminals believe there are no consequences, more (and worse) crime will follow.

The Broken Windows theory simply states that if a building has a broken window that is not fixed, the message is sent that no one cares. Vandals believe there will be no consequences for their bad behavior, and consequently, worse behavior will follow. However, fixing the broken window sends a message that people care about their community and are watching, which deters crime.

Giuliani and Bratton acted on the insights of the Broken Windows theory to transform New York from one of the most dangerous cities in America to the safest big city in the country by treating minor crimes like vandalism, prostitution, and loitering like broken windows. They deployed police to where they were most needed using the CompStat (computer statistics) system. And instead of tolerating these crimes and showing weakness to criminals and would-be criminals, the police showed strength. They instituted a “zero tolerance” policy for so-called minor crimes.

When other criminals witnessed this show of strength, they were deterred. Citizens, meanwhile, felt safer walking the streets and taking the subway. They took more responsibility for their neighborhoods and helped make them safer as well.

In New York, restoring a sense of order to the streets meant that police didn’t have to spend all their time responding to actual crime. Their show of strength inspired citizens to care more for their own communities and deterred criminals from committing crimes in the first place.

This is a lesson that all those who now dismiss the Somali pirates as “distractions” would do well to learn. It is only weakness and stupidity to do nothing!

All of us will be forced to pay for President Obama’s record-setting budget increases-as will our children and grandchildren.

A 50-year oldwith a college degree will pay approximately $81,000 over their working life just to pay the interest on the debt in the Obama budget.

A 40-year-oldwill pay $132,000 in debt interest only payments.

A 20-year-old just starting out after college will pay a whopping $114,000 just to service the interest on the debt created by the Obama budget.

By 2019, President Obama’s budget will have added over $9.4 trillion to the federal debt.

And like any form of debt, such as a home mortgage or car loan, this debt comes with a steep debt load. Just like paying off the interest on a credit card, every young American will be responsible for not only paying the principal on President Obama’s budget, but will also have to shoulder the interest payments. The above calculations are just debt interest.